Air moistener



Dec'. 10, 1929. E. H. JQHNSQN 1,739,073

AIR MISTENER Filed Nov. 18. 192.7

ira-anna ha. io, 1929 i stares artnr ons Enwanp H. manson, or nonnen, wisconsin, assiettes, or oran-naar To wenn n.

nenne, or si-inrsorean., wisconsin AIR MGISTENER Application filed November 1S, v1927. `Serialltl'o. 234,172. l

This invention relates to air moisteners and is particularly directed to an air moistener for use in connection with an internal combustion engine.

@bjects oi this invention are to provide a novel term ot air moistezner which will supply moistened air at the proper temperature to the mixture as it aasses to the enOine thus insuring smooth operation, a material increase in the outputotl the engine,` and coinparative freedom trom carbon.

Further objects are to provide a device which is very compact, which is easily installed, and which utilizes a portion of the heat oi the eahaust to vaporize the water vapor prior to its mixingwith the flowing stream ot combustible mixture.

Further objects are to provide an automatic device in which the water level within the heating chamber' is maintained and in which the heating chamber communicates with a float chamber through a restricted aperture, thus avoiding;` heating' allot the water contained both in the float chamber and in the heating chamber and permitting heatingl of the water only in the heating chamber.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying` drawings in which Figure l is a sectional View through the device;

Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure l with parts in section. f

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises a body portion l which may be, it desired, of rectangular contour and which is provided with a pairyof apertured ears 2 adapted for attachmentto the exhaust manifold studs of an automobile, such for example as a Ford. The lower part of the body portion l is contracted and :forms a li/shaped member 3 adapted i to receive wat-orto the level indicated by thereference character 4t. This lower` portion 3 is inwardly curved, as indicated at il, sf as to 'lit againstan exhaust manifold 5. Preferably, a drain plug 6 is positioned in the lowest part of the portion 3. The body portion has integrally formed therewith a float chamber 'l provided with a drain plug 8 and loosely carrying and guiding` a Afloat 9, This float is provided `with an upstandinfg; stem 10 equipped with a needleyalve which closes the opening 1l through the littinf.;` l2 screwed into the top plate 13 ot' the float chamber. `This fitting 12 receives a water supply pipe 13 which `is supplied troni any suitable source, for instance, the radiator, it desired, er from a separate vessel.

The interior of the loat chamber com* muuicates with the outside air by means olf a downwardly slanting` over`-l`low passage It communicates with the heating `chamber i and interior of the body portion l by means of the passageway lf". This passageway 153 extends slightly above and below the water level line a. y

The body portion is provided with a plurality ot' apertures 16 on opposite sides, as shown in both figures. These apertures are adapted to admit air, air also passingthrough the downwardly extending aperture 14.- in

`the `float chamber and through the aperture 15 into the body portion. The air from the aperture 1G `passes downwardly below the vertical baille plates or guide plates ll'` and sweeps across the upper tace ot the heated and steaming water. The baliie plates ll' arerigidly carried by a transverse slantinfg `baille plate 18. This baille plate 18 is held in `place by means of screws 19 which entend to the outer side oit the body portion. Above the battle plate 18q a second baille plate 20 is l positioned and is alsoheldinplace by screws 21. The battle plate 18 lis provided with apertures 22 adjacent one edge thereof and the baille plate() is provided with apertures 23 adjacent the opposite edge; rlhese baille plates prevent the carrying,` over of any solid particles of the water.

The top ot the body portion l is closed by atop plate 24 provided wit-han outlet iitting 25. l/Vithin this outlet itting a priming cup maybe positioned, asshown.

The outlet portion 25 isadapted to receive an outlet pipe which may passte any desired portion of the intake system of` the engine.

`For example, it may pass directly to the intake manifold, it desired.

nusing the apparatus, it will be seen that the air passes inwardly and sweeps over the hot steaming water and picks up the waterl vapor. The air'and water vapor are thus heated and in their heated state pass to the intake manifold of the engine. As the water is used up thewater Hows from the iioatchamber 7 through the passageway 15 into the heating chamber 3, which forms the lower part of the body portion. As the water supply in the float chamber is depleted the float descends and permits a fresh supply of water to flow into the float chamber. There is a gradual preheating of the water, that is to say, it becomes warm prior to its passage into the heating chamber 3 so that the operation of the apparatus even when the float operates, is still smooth and without any variations in the proportion of the moist air supply.

.The Vprimingcup 26 may be used in very cold weather for aiding in starting the en-v gine'.

For instance, it furnishes a handy place to pour naphtha or other` highly volatile starting fluids.

It is to be noted that by heating the water to a steaming temperature that the size of the apparatus may be'very materially decreased over that required for a device in which the air merely sweeps over the cool water surface. i

Ity will beV lseen instead that the water is caused to steam and thus to readily mix its y vapor with the inwardly passing air.

It will be seen further that the device is simple, requires no thought on the part of the operator, and cannot flood the machine.

- Although the invention has been described in vconsiderable detail, suchj description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention mayY be` variously embodied and as the scope ofV such invention is to be determined as claimed'.

I claim:

l. An air moistener for internal combus- L tion engines comprising a body portion, a

heating chamber formed in the lower part of thabedy.. Portion, means for heating Said lieating'chamber,"afloat chamber communi- 'l catingwithsaid heatinfffchamber and spaced -ffromgsad heating cha-iter@ flea positioned "Ethin s'a-idr float chamber, [a valve Controlled VA'eatingi with"v` said valve, fand Y 111.6421115`4 Vindelpendent of said float chamber' 'for conducting airthrough` lsaid heating 'chamber'. Y

` An airmoistener;` for-Ql internal; combus- -tio'nf engines oomprisinga body portiomf a heating 'chamber formed in` the `lower part of ,the bodyfportiomfmeans ,forjlheating 'said heating'. chamber,` a floaftgchambercommunimunicating with said valve, said body portion-having air inlet apertures and having baifle plates to direct the air downwardly and cause the air to sweep across the surface of the steaming water in said heating chamber, said body portion having an outlet iitting adjacent its upper end.

3. An air moistening device for internal combustion engines comprising a body portion adapted to be bolted to the engine and having a. heating chamber contoured to it the exhaust manifold, said heating chamber being adapted to contain water, a ioat chamber rigidly carried by said body portion and having a passageway communicating with said heating chamber, a iioat carried within said iioat chamber, water supply means controlled by said float, said body portion and said float chamber having upper plates removably attached thereto, the upper plate. ot said body portion having an outlet fitting, said body portion having a plurality of baille plates positioned therein, said baiile plates consisting of transversely and vertically extending plates, said body portion having air apertures adjacent said vertically extending plates, said vertically extending plates terminating above the water level in the heating chamber, whereby the incoming air is caused to sweep over the surface of the heated Water.

4. An air moistening device for internal combustion engines comprising a body portion adapted to be bolted to the engine and having a heating chamber contoured to lit the exhaust manifold, said heating chamber being adapted to contain water, a i'ioat chamber rigidly carried by said body portion and having a passageway communicating with said heating chamber, a float carried within said iioat chamber, water supply means controlled by said iioat, said body portion and said iioat chamber having upper plates removably attached thereto, the upper plate of said body portion having an outlet fitting, said body portion having a plurality of baille plates positioned therein, said baille plates consisting of transversely and vertically exapertures adjacent said vertically extending plates, said vertically extending plates terminating above the water level in the heating "chamber, whereby the incoming air is caused to'sweep over the surface of the heated water, 'said' float chamber having an aperture extended downwardly thereinto and opening below the water level.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing fI'have hereunto set myhand at Kohler, in the county of Sheboygan and State of W'is- 1 consin.

j EDWARD H. JOHNSON.` 

